Signals pointing to fulfillment of Bible prophecy continue to mount. The
signs are in every direction on the horizon of this generation. We are
convinced we must, in obedience to the commission to be good watchmen of
issues and events in light of God's prophetic Word, propose scripturally
sound possibilities for this last time. We will delve into likely scenarios
that might play out on the stage of human history from now until the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. Specifically, we will forecast the probabilities of
things to come for the next four years.
This is not an endeavor to try to set dates. Our goal is to offer
perspective, both different and superior, scripturally, and rationally, to
the endless number of predictions, made through wild speculations, that have
turned out to be false. We don't make any claims of supernatural
knowledge or secret intelligence reports. We base our forecasting upon
Jesus' words of condemnation to those of His time on earth who were
willfully blind to the common signs signaling His first coming.
"Jesus answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be
fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul
weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can
discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"
(Matt. 16:2-3)
If you were to look back into history 150 years, you would find that Bible
prophecy follows a very steady rate of progress. Because man becomes bored with
or desensitized to prophecy-related events, he fails to realize how simple
the task of prophecy watching can be. No Christian who earnestly seeks to
know what the Bible says about what will happen in the future will fail to
discern the signals.
The European Union
The EU has evolved from its genesis as the Club of Rome in the mid-20th
century to become the 25-nation geopolitical entity we believe will
ultimately provide the power base for Antichrist (Rev. 17:12-13).
As it looks now, the European Union, while a growing behemoth, will
likely remain in the shadow of the United States until some future dynamic
changes the present circumstances.
Because the Bible predicts the revived Roman empire will initially be a
weak government, the next four years will likely continue to see the EU
struggle with internal strife. Despite the conflicts and setbacks, the
pro-EU forces will ultimately end up on top of the climb toward global
power. Watch for the EU to assert its strengthening economic and military
power while the next four years unfold.
Terrorism
If the prophetic birth pangs are going to increase with greater
frequency and intensity, it is logical to assume that terrorism, as part of
the end-time mix, will increase from this point. The world has yet to
experience a large-scale terrorist attack involving weapons of mass
destruction. We believe it is only a matter of time before the world is
brought to a new level of shock as WMDs kill large numbers of innocent
people.
It is very possible the Antichrist will rise to power as a result
of a climate of fear involving terrorism. The Word of God indicates we are
headed towards a period so frightening that men will die prematurely from
fear.
"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things
which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken"
(Lk. 21:26).
Watch for terrorism to rise to the level of catastrophic use of weapons
of mass destruction. Terrorism will inevitably bring with the dangers
involved, liberty-oppressing ramifications throughout the U.S., and the
world.
Russia
In chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel, we are told that Russia and a host of
Arab and other nations will attempt an invasion of Israel. Prophetic
scholars have been puzzled by the "evil thought" that will cause
Russia to come against the tiny nation of Israel.
"Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same
time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought"
(Ezek. 38:10).
The Gog prophecies appeared to many to be tailor-made for the
geographical area once within the Soviet Union. When the USSR fell and was
replaced by a freely elected democratic government, most prophecy watchers were in a state of denial
about the validity of the reforms. Now that Vladimir Putin is rapidly
reversing Russia's experience with freedom, we're getting an indication that
the geopolitical realities that will produce the prophesied leader, Gog, are
in place today.
Watch for Russia to drift away from democratic ideals. As it does so, we
expect to see that
nation embark on a new drive toward militarism. At some point, Putin's
desire for even more power will cause him to exert strong-arm influence on
the weaker nations surrounding Russia. The test of how near we are to
Russia's prophesied campaign against Israel depends on how the world
community reacts to Putin's likely coming move.
Mark of the Beast - 666
Actually, very little advancement is required before we reach the point
at which the world will utilize a centralized financial system to control all
economic transactions. The technology now exists and is ready for full
implementation around the globe. The changes we see in the next few years may be very
subtle, but they will have a profound impact.
By 2006, most consumer products will become tagged with radio ID chips
(RFID). Once all the items on our store shelves become tagged, the logical question
will be asked: "Why aren't humans marked?" As the tags become more popular,
watch and listen for more serious talk about a cashless society, then for
dynamic movement to implement it.
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to
receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man
might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or
the number of his name" (Rev. 13:16-17).
The United States
Because prophecy does not specifically cite the United States as being a
major player in the end times, one can assume with good reason that our
nation will become a secondary player in the final days leading up to the
tribulation.
It is possible a devastating event might remove the U.S. from the
world stage. For example, with a total national debt of $7.4 trillion and a
trade deficit of roughly $500 billion for 2004, the American economy could
implode from its own excess.
We believe America's position as the number-one global economic power
will continue to diminish while the EU's economic fortune rises. U.S.
resources are massive, but not without limits. The constant drain on them
from expansive policing responsibilities around the world may trigger a
breakpoint. Dependence upon fossil fuel to power both the engines of its
vehicles and the engine of its commerce add to the strain on the U.S.
economy. Watch for the spiritual and political division at the nation's core
to worsen if Christians continue to make material matters their priority.
The Israeli-Arab Conflict
In the near future Israel and her Arab neighbors may experience a new
level of hostility that will grab the world's attention like never before.
Because Antichrist is predicted to be the guarantor of peace for Israel
and its enemy neighbors, there must be a conflict of considerable magnitude
for him to resolve. With Syria and Iran possessing weapons of mass
destruction, that level of conflict could come when Israel tries to
preemptively disarm one or both of these nations. Watch for such action, if
it occurs, to thrust Israel toward isolation foretold in the following
prophecy:
"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people:
all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the
people of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zech. 12:3).
China
The Bible tells us that someday a huge military alliance will invade the
Middle East with an army of 200 million soldiers. Because China is about the
only nation with the ability to man and effectively outfit an army of such
massive size, prophecy watchers have looked for it to fulfill the role of
the kings of the east found in the following prophecy:
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and
the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might
be prepared" (Rev. 16:12 ).
"Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard
the number of them" (Rev. 9:16 ).
Watch for China's economic might to continue to grow. We expect that
its need for natural resources will cause the Communist state to become
more determined to project its influence on a global scale. We also think
that China's relationship with the U.S. will become strained by the need to
compete for those dwindling resources.
Morality
The decline in morality has been one of the easiest end-time signs to
project. Over the past decade, the filth spewing from the media has steadily
increased, its society-infecting contents flushing the nation and the world
ever lower toward the cesspool of cultural depravity. Many short-lived attempts at reversing the trend have been made, but all have failed. It is
likely that over the next four years, profanity and nudity will descend to new
lows.
The growing availability of satellite and internet outlets that are
beyond the reach of federal regulators will almost certainly speed the
decline. "Shock jock" Howard Stern has already realized he can escape the
wrath of the FCC by moving his radio program to the Sirus satellite network.
Watch for entertainment media to severely test the broadcast and cable
morality monitors at every turn. Since the regulators themselves approach
life from a sin-fallen perspective, things will go from bad to worse.
Apostasy
One of the best ways to measure levels of apostasy is to track the
activity of popular Christian leaders who are heavily involved in heretical
doctrine. For a number of years, Rapture Ready has reported on the activity
of leading figures in the word of faith movement. Until now, their errors
have mostly been confined to teaching that corrupts the Gospel message.
Because there is no such thing as stagnant apostasy, in the next four
years, we expect to experience examples of Christian leaders adopting
doctrines that conflict directly with the heart of Christianity. Watch for
some of the key indicators of apostasy to proliferate greatly.
Some of these are: bold statements that reject Jesus as the only
way of salvation; the acceptance of homosexual lifestyle; and hate-filled
words and actions against true believers.
Oil
Man has just about discovered all the major oil fields on the planet that
are going to be found, according to some experts. In fact, the rate of
discovery of worldwide oil reserves, after declining for 40 years, is
reported to have nosed dived in recent years. In 2000, there were 16 large
discoveries of oil, eight in 2001, three in 2002, and none in 2003, notes
James Meyer, director of the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre in London.
While more and more nations become industrialized, the focus on oil
supplies is going to force the world's attention even more dramatically in
the direction of the Middle East. Watch for the rise in the value of oil
over the coming four years. That will in all likelihood lead to stronger
military ties, as oil wealth is exchanged for armaments.
The Harlot Church
Bible prophecy forewarns that during the end times, a demonic spiritual
movement will use love and understanding to create a global pantheon of
religions. The result will be an organization that promotes the false belief
that all roads lead to the Creator. Because Jesus Christ said that He is the
only way to God, anyone who holds to this truth will be labeled intolerant.
In the next few years anyone who disagrees with that developing
religious system of "tolerance" will not be tolerated. In the name of
tolerance, Christians will be pushed to the margins of what is considered
"tolerant" society. Already, our culture has reached the point that it is a
hate crime for someone to declare the supremacy of Jesus Christ. Scripture
foretells the result of the trends in this direction:
"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with
gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of
abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a
name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the
saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I
wondered with great admiration" (Rev. 17:4-6)
Watch for increasingly stringent legislative proposals, and,
particularly, for more court actions and edicts aimed at putting a clamp on
Christians expressing godly values in most every area of life in America.
People of the United states and the world are entering a time rife with
probabilities that will present great danger to personal liberty. The next
four years will, at the same time, offer possibilities full of great
opportunity to live victoriously through Christ.
